Forrest, nothing
need be touched,--not a hair of a horse's back; no, not though you
should be obliged to pay the whole amount yourself gradually out
of your income. You must execute a series of bills, falling due
quarterly, and then--"
"I will execute no bill, I will put my name to no paper in the
matter; as to that my mind is fully made up. They may come and do
their worst." Mr. Sowerby persevered for a long time, but he was
quite unable to move the parson from this position. He would do
nothing towards making what Mr. Sowerby called an arrangement, but
persisted that he would remain at home at Framley, and that any one
who had a claim upon him might take legal steps. "I shall do nothing
myself," he said; "but if proceedings against me be taken, I shall
prove that I have never had a shilling of the money." And in this
resolution he quitted the Dragon of Wantly. Mr. Sowerby at one time
said a word as to the expediency of borrowing that sum of money from
John Robarts; but as to this Mark would say nothing. Mr. Sowerby was
not the friend with whom he now intended to hold consultation in such
matters. "I am not at present prepared," he said, "to declare what
I may do; I must first see what steps others take." And then he
took his hat and went off; and mounting his horse in the yard of the
Dragon of Wantly--that horse which he had now so many reasons to
dislike--he slowly rode back home.
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